Chapter 26

Amy was steeping her tea in the kitchen as she watched Sheldon happily typing away on his laptop at his desk. She looked at him and smiled. Everything had changed, but at the same time everything didn't. They were still Sheldon and Amy. They still argued about little things; he was still stubborn and arrogant, she was still obstinate and blunt. They still played little games together, they laughed at their inside jokes that nobody else understood. It was fun, just spending time together as it always was. At the same time, everything was different. She felt more connected with him, closer. She got to see a side of Sheldon that nobody else got to see. The side that was shy, the side that was unsure, the side that was filled with passion, and yes, truth be told, whimsy. It had only been a few weeks since they had first made love, but she already felt addicted to his touch. She knew that he felt the same way because he was always lightly touching her also. A soft touch on the shoulder, a gentle caress on her cheek, his hand gently resting on her leg. She adored waking up in the morning and seeing his blue eyes gazing at her. They had barely spent a minute apart in the past few weeks; they couldn't bear to be apart. Being together felt right, like how it was meant to be.

Sheldon looked up at Amy standing at the kitchen counter. "Amy I'm done" he said smiling. A document was printing on his printer.

"Really? Can I read it?" Amy asked excitedly as she walked over to the desk.

"Of course" he said proudly. He stapled the document and handed it to her. "I'm really proud of this. I think it might lead to something big."

Amy sat down on the couch and opened his paper. "Supersymmetry in Balance. A Newtonian approach to bosons and fermions" by Dr. Sheldon Lee Cooper, Ph.D. She started reading the abstract. Sheldon started pacing up and down the living room, glancing nervously at Amy.

"Did you get to the good part yet?" Sheldon asked.

"Still reading, just hold on." Amy grinned. Sheldon continued pacing around the living room and kitchen.

"It's just an idea at this point, it's nothing concrete..." Sheldon said nervously.

Amy set down the paper. "I just read the abstract, but this new approach sounds fascinating. Sheldon I'm so proud of you! I'm sure you won't have to move back to string theory with this paper published."

"Well, I did tell Dr. Gablehauser not to underestimate me. Amy this is only an idea, nothing has been proven or established. I'm not sure if it will be enough, although I'm not sure that it matters anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, this whole challenge from Gablehauser was to keep me in the field of String Theory. That annoyed me. I don't like to pigeon holed and forced to explore one area only. I was getting frustrated with string theory, constantly hitting dead ends. But, I don't know…I kind of miss it."

"What? After all of that, you miss string theory?"

"As much as I hate to admit it…Gablehauser is right about one thing…it is the holy grail of physics."

"Wow, I'm really surprised. I thought you weren't interested anymore."

"I'll always be interested in String Theory. I just didn't want to dedicate my career to something that will probably never be proven in my lifetime, and where I wasn't sure I could make a significant contribution. But I do love it. I always have. I still maintain, that I should be allowed to work on both. Dark matter is fascinating. I think this paper will help my argument."

"Well, I think they would be fools to try to limit you. Holy Grail?" Amy smiled. "Does that make you Indiana? You do know that whether you discover the Grand Unification Theory or some other physicist does, the outcome will be exactly the same to mankind" Amy teased.

"Quit it Amy, You've already ruined Indiana Jones for me! You are not ruining string theory" He grabbed her hand. "Come here". He pulled her onto his lap, and spun around in his office chair. "I think you need to be punished." He pulled her into a kiss.

"This doesn't really seem like punishment." Amy mumbled as she kissed him back. They continued kissing until they heard a gentle knocking at the door.

"That must be Penny." Amy said softly.

"Come in" yelled Sheldon.

Penny opened the door to see Amy sitting on Sheldon's lap. The sight still jarred her slightly, she wasn't used to seeing the two of them being so openly affectionate. They both looked so happy.

"Hey Ames, just wondering when you are coming for Girl's night? Bernie just got here." Penny said.

"Oh, I'll be there in a couple of minutes." Amy replied. Penny smiled at her, and nodded. She quietly closed the door.

Sheldon looked at Amy concerned. "Are you sure you ready for this? You three haven't really hung out together since your last girl's night."

"To be honest, I think it's going to be a little awkward at first, but I think it's something we need to do, if we really want to become close friends again."

"Well, if you are ok with it, then I am ok with it. Have fun tonight." Sheldon gave her a light kiss. Amy returned the kiss and smiled at Sheldon.

"I love you Sheldon" Amy said softly.

"I know" Sheldon replied. Amy laughed and walked out the door to Penny's.

Penny's apartment was neat and tidy. There was a bucket of ice on her kitchen counter chilling wine, and bowls of snacks on her coffee table.

"Wow, you cleaned?" Bernie said surprised as she glanced around the organized apartment. "Did Sheldon break in again and organize?"

"Oh God…" Amy muttered. She shot Bernie a dirty look.

"What?" Bernie replied.

"No, No…it was me. I've had a lot of time on my hands right now. So I've been sorting out my apartment. I need to make room for Leonard to move in, and get ready and organized for university this fall." Penny said.

"University? What are you talking about?" Amy asked.

Penny got her glass of wine and sat down on the couch. "Well, I decided that I really don't want to be an actress. I did enjoy the sales aspect of my last job. I decided to enroll in Marketing at UCLA. I thought I would combine my love for sales with my love for the entertainment world. I'm pretty excited."

"Wow Penny! That is great. I think you'll really excel at that." Amy said happily. Bernie nodded along with her.

"So how's work for the both of you?" Penny asked.

"Stressful." Bernie said flatly.

"Good actually. My new grant proposal was approved, so I have a lot of new research starting up at CalTech." Amy said.

"That's great Amy." Bernie said.

"Yeah Congrats Amy." Penny said.

Silence filled the room. The three of them looked awkwardly at each other. They were not talking freely like they normally did. Bernie started playing with her coaster. Amy was examining the chip bowl carefully.

"Ok, enough of this. We are in desperate need of an icebreaker." Penny said. She got up and went to the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle of Tequila and three shot glasses. She filled each shot glass and put them in front of the girls and herself. "We are going to play I've never "

"I've never? What's that?" Amy asked.

"It's simple. You make a statement about something you've never done. Like, I've never gone to university before. If the statement is true for you, then you have to take a shot. So in that case, I wouldn't drink, but you and Bernie would have to take the shot. It's a great icebreaker game, and if we ask you to elaborate, you have to. Everyone clear?"

"Crystal" Bernie replied.

Penny smiled. "Ok, I'll start then, I've never gone to the movies by myself."

The three girls looked at each other, and then Amy and Bernadette took their shot glasses and gulped the tequila back. "Uuugh…it burns!" Amy gasped. "This is not going to be good for me…." Penny smiled and refilled their shot glasses.

"Ok, it's my turn then" Amy said, her throat still burning. "I never…wear pants." She started grinning.

"Dammit!" Penny muttered. Penny and Bernadette both took their shots. Penny refilled their glasses.

"My turn!" Bernie said gleefully. "Let's make this interesting. I Never….I never had sex with a physicist!" She looked pointedly at Amy.

Penny took her glass and shot it back. Amy tentatively looked at the girls and then slowly picked up her glass and shot it.

"Oh my God! I knew it! Amy! Elaborate! Elaborate!" Bernie squealed.

Amy's face had gone completely red. "You guys…that's personal!"

"Sorry Hon, it's the rules of the game. You have to elaborate. When did this happen? So how was it? How was the mini-Cooper?" Bernie laughed.

"Oh my God!" Amy buried her face in her hands. She could feel every part of her face burning with embarrassment. She looked up at Penny to save her.

"Sorry Amy…that's the rules. Plus I'm curious myself" Penny grinned.

"His lovemaking was aloof but effective" Amy said dryly.

"No,no, no…you are not getting away with that one again" Bernie said. "Tell us the real deal."

Amy looked at her two best friends. She had been wanting to talk to someone about this, but it felt strange to talk about something so personal at the same time. The tequila was beginning to have its effect on her though, her inhibitions were dropping.

"You guys….it was so…amazing!" Amy said softly. Penny and Bernie squealed and looked up at Amy expectantly. "We didn't plan it, I was just over one night, and we were talking and joking around, and then, Sheldon asked me to spend the night."

"Wow, bold move Cooper" Penny said proudly.

"Then we were just talking in bed, then we started kissing, and then it just escalated. And we ended up doing…ummm…it. And it felt so wonderful. He was really amazing guys. So gentle at first…and then so passionate. I've never felt more in love with him." Amy smiled up at the girls.

Bernie came over and gave Amy a hug. "I'm so happy for you Amy. I just wanted to see you happy, and I can see that you truly are." Penny came and joined them on the couch and gave Amy a hug also. "I'm really happy for you too" she added.

"So was everything fully functional and aesthetically pleasing?" Penny joked.

"Penny!" Amy laughed and then whacked her with the throw cushion. "I'll just answer yes and yes. Ok, whose turn is it now?"

"It's mine." Penny replied. She turned to her two friends on the couch. "I Never… had friends as supportive, kind and wonderful as you." The three of them stared at the untouched shot glasses on the table. They all looked at each other and smiled.

"I love you girls so much." Penny said with tears in her eyes. Amy and Bernadette both whispered "Me too". The three girls embraced on the couch. They had been through so much, but they knew that they would always have each other's backs from now on.

The End.

A/N: That's it! My first fanfiction! I want to thank all the people that have reviewed and PM'd me throughout the process. It was really an amazing experience for me to write this story. Cathartic really… I do hope that you enjoyed it. I learned so many things on what to do…and what not to do when writing! The best thing about the whole writing experience was interacting with other authors and readers on here! I really feel like I've made some lifelong friends on here. I'd like to shout out to Hazelra7 and Shamour for both being so amazing supportive. I've got my next story in my head…but maybe something a little lighter and happier..lol! If you liked the story, please review…it really makes my day. And if you've read this whole long saga, and haven't reviewed yet, please do, cause I'd love to know what you thought. Thanks again! You are all the best!